The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-08-16

contractor to report to the Secretary daily and
afterward summoned him before The full Board
OF aie the complaints have Increased 10 such
degree and have been made through abe medium
OF the public press TO such an extent that we are
convinced that the contractor Is either incompe-
tent or is evading his contract In either case
this Board Is without the means of remedying the
eyii complained OF 1t can neither dismiss the
contractor nor annul the contract, nor has II any
legal power 10 enforce the rules and regulations
when II has made for the carrying out of the con-
tract.
1t has therefore seemed to us to be our duty to
bring the matter before your honorable Board as
NE party who made ihe contract, 10 take such
measures as You see MT to enforce its provisions.
Very respectfully submitted -
CHAs. ID. SMITH NJ. d., ! Board
A. X, p, MEsERvE, NJ. D.. of
GEO. L. BURGESS, Health.
Alderman Smith said he supposed the ap-
pointment of MIR. Taylor carried with it the
understanding that he should fulfill his con-
tract with the city, and that he was appoint
ed subject to the authority Of the local Board
of Health.
Alderman Briggs said before he took any
action in this matter he wanted to know
what he was voting on. He had talk with
Mr. Taylor and that gentleman had told him
he had to remove ffal from the wholesale
and retail stores which he didn't understand
was part OF the contract. Furthermore
that he had been compelled to put new man
over one route and he understood all the
trouble came on that route. er
MIR. Burgess, Secretary of the Board of
Health, said he had not considered in his list
of complaints any that had been made by
the owners of wholesale or retail store
The complaints taken note Of were from
dwellings, and embraced whole sections of
the city. The whole of Park street. st.
i axttra t.s,fr.. A Al.
cited as instances Of the truth of the state
ment. DIR. Meserye. of the Board of Health,
had maggots generated in his house offal of
such size they crawled into his garden 1t
was no dLubt true that the drivers gave up
their jobs and new ones had to learn their
routes. Then there We're cases where driv-
ers' attention had to be called tn houses by
occupants tapping on the window, and the
very next time they would drive by the same
houses without stopping. nrT There was no
doubt that Mr.. Taylor was anxious to serve
the people, but his men deceived him Since
the 9th of July there had been IS complaints
from different sections of the city, and 1877
since the beginning of the heated term
These We're only portion of the sufferers.
He wished the public distinctly to under
stand that the Board of Health took up this
matter just tc help out, and they have been
overburdeHed with complaints it was not
their business TO bear They have no power
to discharge Mr.. Taylor, or amend his con-
tract, ana il is for the Board of. Mayor and
Aldermen who appointed him, to discharge
him or enforce his contract The city solic
itor said the Board could only make rules,
notcafry them out
Mr.. Taylor, who was present said it had
been very difficult this season for him to
secure men to do the work. He had paid ten
dollars and would pay twelve to competent
men. He had tried to do everything, taking
the offal from the stores as well as from the
dwellings and therefore had neglected the
dwellings, although he had employed two
more carts in the work than were required
by the contract. He said even old drivers
would skip houses. 1874
Mr.. Burgess said Mr.. Taylor was not re-
CURED to take the offal from the stores and
ne glect the houses. He, Burgess, asked him
if he could take the offal from the stores and
he said he could as well as not This was
the first time he had heard this brought up
as an excuse for not doing the work of the
contract
Mr.. Taylor said he was sure he could fulfill
the contract il he didn't look after the stores
DIR. Smith. chairman of the Board of
Health said, he plain facts of the case were
these. An agent of the city contracted with
by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, has
failed to properly perform his work. That
failure has caused nuisance. The Board
of Health finds it its duty to complain to the
Board of Mayor and Aldermen that
nuisance has been committed by its agent
The Board of Health has no authority TO
amend any contract. That power rests with
the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. II il
for them to hold Taylor to his contract but
not the Board of Health.
The Mayor said he had supposed that the
Board of Health had delegated to them all
necessary powers in the matter. He was
sure the Board of Mayor and Aldermen stood
ready to back them up in whatever was
right and their duty. He read the contract
between the city and Mr.. Taylor by which
it appeared that Taylor was to remove the
offal three times week at least, and daily if
necessary, employing six light carts, and more
If necessary, and to give bonds in 81 200 for
faithful performance of his contract.
Alderman Wilson agreed with the Mayor.
Alderman Briggs thought the storekeepers
had as much right to demand the removal of
their offal as the occupants of dwellings and
that if this contract didn't cover that point
one should be made that did.
There was some other discussion on the
subject, in which Aldermen Kicker and
Marks joined. Finally Alderman Smith of.
fered the following orders which were car
ried:
Ordered, That Mr.. Joshua L. TAYLOR be |
directed to perform his duty according TO the |
contract he has made with the city. and nm |
less he performs said duty he be forthwith |
removed from the position he holds and his /
bondsmen be sued 10 save the city from any |
damage caused by such change.
Ordered, That the clerk be ordered to no |
tify Mr.. Taylors bondsmen of this action of |
the Board.
The Board voted that when they adjourned |
it be for one week. to hear if any further |
complaints had been made.
MISCELLANEOUS.
A petition for sewer on Neal street from |
w. X Neal and Others was referred
Report of commissioners of the sinking |
fund of the A. IL ST. l.. Railroad was accent |
ed and ordered Oh file.
Henry Chamberlain was appointed special
policeman, without pay, at the Maine Steam.
ship Co.
ID. c. COlesworthy was authorized to re-
move tree, corner of Free and Oak streets.
under the direction of the City Forester. If |
he would bear the expense,